Camel ride in the Golden Triangle near the oasis village of Douz

The perfect place to indulge those Lawrence of Arabia fantasies, Douz sits on the edge of the desert as it should be: an infinite sea of sand, the dunes postcard-perfect. The town’s fine for a wander, and if you’re here at the right time you’ll catch the incredible Sahara Festival, but it’s the sandy stuff that’s the real magic here. A camel ride is pretty much obligatory, and once out on your African steed, the lure of the desert is immediate. The elements are your true companions here: the shifting light and the winds. As you ride between oases, the Sahara swallows you in its endless expanse, its great silence.